Kitchen basics

Know your kitchen "work centers"

• Food Preparation and Storage
• Cooking and Serving
• Clean up

microwave ovens

Using and caring for microwave ovens

Safety tips

• Always use a hot pad or oven mitt
• Pierce certain food before cooking
• Remove cover so steam flows away from face

microwave cooking tips

• Use paper towels to avoid spattering
• Stir during the cooking time
• Foods that need to boil wont cook faster

know how to follow a recipe

To get good results from a recipe:

• Read the recipe carefully
• Get all utensils, tools and ingredients ready
• Measure accurately
• Mix as directed
• Bake or cook the required time

measuring dry ingredients

• For dry ingredients, use measuring cups and spoons
• Flour, sugar, salt, etc.
• Heap
• Level
• Empty

measuring solid ingredients

• For solid ingredients, use dry measuring cups
• Butter, shortening, brown sugar, etc.
• Pack
• Level
• Empty

measuring liquids

• For liquid ingredients, use a liquid measuring cup
• Milk, water, oil, juice, etc.
• Set cup on a flat surface
• Bend down to eye level and pour desired amount

measuring spoons

• Used to measure small amounts of dry and liquid ingredients
• Do not use kitchen spoons, they are not accurate!

safety in the kitchen

Personal safety

• Chemical poisoning, cuts, burns, fires and falls
• Electric shock and choking follow close behind
• Many accidents are due to lack of information
• Also due to carelessness!

Prevent many accidents by:

• Properly using and caring for equipment
• Noticing and correcting potential dangers
• Being organized and following directions
• Keeping your kitchen clean

Food safety

Preventing food-borne illnesses

• An illness transmitted by food
• Millions of cases in the US each year
• Many mistake their symptoms for the "flu"

Can result in one of 2 ways

• Contaminants - substances that have accidentally gotten in food
• Bacteria - micro-organisms that multiply and get people sick

Ways to prevent food-borne illness

Hand washing

• Should be done before and during cooking
• Use gloves for ready-to-eat foods

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Handle food properly

Danger zone

• Store food at correct temperatures.
• Know the Danger Zone for certain foods!
• Danger Zone: 40-140 degrees F.
• Certain foods begin to develop harmful bacteria

what about the dishes?

Washing the dishes properly

• Scrape extra food into the garbage
• Use warm water and soap
• First glasses, silverware, plates, and cups
• Wash pots and pans last (greasy water)
• Dry dishes and put away

now you're ready to cook!